Jason Ratcliff a new addition to the team as crew chief for Logano tried to remain somewhat neutral.

“My prediction is that Tom Brady cannot be beat if you can’t get to him, but I would really like to see the Giants win,” Ratcliff said. “I like the Manning brothers — I like the Manning family. I don’t think they can beat him — it’s going to be tough. I really wanted to see the Harbaugh brothers go at it — I’m a Bears fan. That would have been neat, but maybe next year. I love football. When I was a kid, like any other 12-year-old boy, you thought you were going to play pro football — until I realized that I wasn’t even close enough to being big enough to play pro football. They would just crush me — even in college for that matter. I’ll watch the game somewhere, but I won’t be as into it because I’m not really a Patriots fan or a Giants fan. You have to watch it for the commercials — the commercials are great. I’ll probably be sitting on my couch because I don’t have the opportunity to do that enough — sitting with my two boys and my wife. I’m sure we’ll invite some friends over and have a good time.”

Getting ready for SPEED interview at Extreme Ice Center with Danielle Trotta

Logano Talking with Danielle Trotta

Joey and his sister Danielle talk to the SPEED cameras.

Logano’s appearance helped raise money for the Meriden Silver City Quarter Midget Club, which is where he got his start in racing. The club’s facilities need repairs, particularly the leaky track tower.

Logano was racing quarter midget cars at Silver City when he was 6. He won the 1997 Eastern Grand National Championship in the Junior Stock Car Quarter Midget division at the age of 7.

“I enjoy seeing kids start off the same way I did,” Logano said.

Logano signed autographs for nearly three hours, maintaining a permanent smile as hundreds sought their moment with him. He also participated in kart racing, which he hadn’t done since 1999.

“It’s been about 12 years. I’m getting old,” he joked.

He ran several practice laps before racing. Logano drove under his NASCAR nickname, “Sliced Bread,” which he received from fellow NASCAR driver Randy LaJoie. Logano proved that racing karts was like riding a bike; one never forgets. He managed to hug corners by inches and deftly weave among other racers. The up-and-coming NASCAR racer took it easy on some of the local competitors; however, he was briefly spun out by another racer during one race.

Diane Michaud, of Southington, said she is a big fan of Logano for reasons beyond his local background.

“A big part of it is that he is local,” she said. “But he is a cautious driver that knows when to take risks.”

Lisa Bozzuto, secretary of the club’s Board of Directors, put together the event in 28 days.

“We are very thankful to On Track Racing for donating their facilities and Joey, who volunteered his time to Silver City,” she said.

Although she didn’t immediately know the total amount of money raised, she said she believes the event overall was “very successful.”

Bozzuto said the real value of quarter midget racing is the family time it provides.

“It requires the whole family,” she said. “Not many sports require that.”

Wallingford native Jody Quagniaroli came with her two sons to get autographs from Logano.

“He makes New England proud,” she said. “He’s a hometown hero.”

Logano said his rise to NASCAR prominence was anything but easy, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been enjoyable. He advised young racing hopefuls to balance work and play with racing.

“Follow your dream and keep racing,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but I had fun doing it.”

Source

This fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in support of the Meriden-based non-profit organization that has been giving kids between the ages of 5 and 16 the chance to race cars for more than fifty years. Donations of $10 for adults and $5 for children will be accepted at the door. In addition to the autograph signing session, one of the highlights of the day will be the Raffle Races that will give lucky winners the opportunity to race against Joey Logano himself on one of the largest and fastest indoor kart tracks on the East Coast. To participate in the Raffle Races, you must be a member or become a member of On Track Karting. Attendees will also be able to bid on a wide variety of items, both racing-related and not, in the silent auction.

Organizers are still accepting sponsorships and silent auction donations. If you would like to contribute, please contact Lisa Bozzuto at (203) 915-9235 or silvercitysecretary@gmail.com or Elizabeth Regan at (860) 859-2621 or ecregan@sbcglobal.net. More information is available at www.silvercityquartermidgets.com.

Silver City Quarter Midget Club is sanctioned by Quarter Midgets of America, an international organization with 43 member clubs serving more than 2400 families. QMA was founded in 1960 on the principles of family togetherness, sportsmanship and respect for motor-driven vehicles.

loganofan10: what ru looking forward to most this season?

Joey Logano: Winning races.

Jlu3883: Are you still going to be running the Gamestop toyota in the Nationwide series this year

Joey Logano: Yes I am but also with Dollar General and Sport Clips

MarcelloVman: Running the car with the new radiator and spoiler changes today, how much different is drafting?

Joey Logano: Harder to keep the car cool & with the smaller spoiler made it harder for us to stay together but we were still able to do it.

kayleeluvsbrad2: how was your car for todays session

Joey Logano: Yes it was good, we were second quick

Jlu3883: whose your favorite football team in the nfl?

Joey Logano: Patriots. And yes, they’re going to win this weekend

AVERYisGOD: What do you think about the new package for Daytona and how do you think its going to affect the way drivers run.

Joey Logano: The package is different. You’re going to see less 2 car drafts and more of a big pack

loganofan10: How hard is it to have a normal life being a big time star like u have became

Joey Logano: Because I’m busy I guess, but I’m normal like everyone else.

CurlyLilDevil: what do you think of the new spoiler for Daytona?

Joey Logano: It’s smaller so cars go faster, when we push each other we can see through the other cars better.

lizbeth5_2: What was the most challenging part in today’s testing session?

Joey Logano: Figuring out a way to keep our cars cool while pushing

trev_wood: How did your lifestyle change when you got to NASCAR? Do your friends treat you differently?

Joey Logano: No my friends did not treat me differently because they were my friends before and they’re dads all race so they get it

ShannonMariee20: What is it like working with kyle today?

Joey Logano: It was good, we’ve worked together for the last 3 years or so on the super speedways

MichaelPollari: Do you enjoy the super speedways more or less the the shorter tracks

Joey Logano: I like them both, I just like racing

Jonathan_Crain: Who was your favorite driver when you where a kid?

Joey Logano: Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon

lizbeth5_2: Do you ever want to see how fast you can run around Daytona on foot?

Joey Logano: Me and @Bmcreynolds28 jogged the track a few years ago and it took a long time, haha

nascarlinds99_5: How did it feel to be working with a different crew chief today?

Joey Logano: Yes I enjoyed it alot, it’s nice to have a fresh start with Jason